Central buffing and draw-gear



July 7, 1931. A. SPENCER E'r AL 1,813,824

` CENTRAL BUFFING AND DRAW GEAR Filedoct. 22, 1929 2 sheets-sneer 1 A. SPENCERY ET AL l CENTRAL BUFFING AND DRAW kGEAR July 7, 1931;

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filled oct. z, 1929 I IVIHHIlUI l IAWVWHHI...

Patented July 7, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER AND RICHARD THOMSON GLASCODINE, 0F LONDON, ENGLAND CENTRAL BUFFING Aim DRAW-GEAR Application led October 22, 1929, Serial No. 401,517, and in Great Britain September 12, 1929.

This invention relates to central bufling and draw gear for automatic couplings.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efcient gear comprising double acting builing and draw springs each 4constituted by a column of suitable india-rubber spring units. These units may be of the well-known fkind embodying concentric india-rubber rings or: frames moulded on to metal plates, the several units of the column constituting the spring being separated from each other by metal dividing plates. Associated with these india-rubber springs, which are embraced by the draw bar yoke, 'are buliing springs, also it Amay be of india-v rubber of the said type, located lat the front of the headstock Iand which are compressed upon inward movement of the coupler head by means of a .movable compression member .or casting `,against which a striking face at the rear of the, coupler head is `adapted to bear. The springs embraced by the yoke are in part compressed before the external bufling springs come into action.

The india-rubber springs within the yoke maybe mounted onan axial bolt which maintains them at all time in their proper y central position within the yoke.

meansffor carrying the coupler head on av Furthermore the invention has for its object to provide compact and satisfactory platform or bar supported by swinging links in order to centralize the same.

According to the invention the swinging links are carriedby the compression' me'mber v.or casting inward movement of which effects the compression of the, external buing springs, and preferably the said swinging links and supporting platform or bar'are 'located between the external buifing springs.

vIn order to provide the double spring action the springs embraced by the yoke .are

arranged between the follower head and ay compression plate and between the end of the; yoke and a second compression plate,

respectively. These compression, plates are provided with projecting lugs or wings the ends -of which abutf'against the end of the yoke, or a plate whichbears on the end of the yoke, and the follower head respectively,

the arrangement being such that both the springs are simultaneously but independently compressed upon vboth -buiiing and drawing.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a construction of central buing and draw gear embodying the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the gear in sectional s elevation and sectional plan respectively;

Fig. 3 is a' sectional end elevation thereof; Figs. 4and 5 are sections corresponding to the line A `B and C D respectively of' Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6, as regards its right hand half, is a therefor in the shank 1 and follower head 4 respectively, and through slots in the draw bar yoke 8, the endv portions of said cotters sliding in slots 9 formed in brackets 10 which are fixed to the adjacent longitudinal mem-V bers 11 of the underframe. Y

Embraced by the yoke 8 are two'multiple unit india-rubber springs 12 and 13. 'lhe spring 12 is arranged vbetween the follower head 4 and a compression plate 14, and the spring 13 is arranged between a plate 15 located between it and the end 16 of the yoke, and a bsecond compression plate 17.

The compression plate 14 is formed with rearwardly extending Wings 18 that embrace the rear spring 13 and therear ends of which engage recesses in the plate 15 that bears on the end 16 of the yoke. In like manner the compression plate 14 is formed with forwardly extending. wings 19 that.

the several units, each unit consisting cfa number of concentric rings or trames of india-rubber moulded on to and projectingl from each side of a metal plate, the rubber at one side of the plate being connected to the rubber ,at the other side thereof by rubber that extends through holes in the said plate. The spring units and metal dividing plates are mounted on an axial bolt 20, screwed at its front end into the follower head 4 and, at its rear end, passing through the plate 15 and the end 16' of the yoke and bengtted with a retaining nut 21. The axial bolt 20 of coursej also extends through central holes formed therefor in the compression plates 14: and 17. The fixed abutment 22 for the end of the yoke is formed with a recess 23 to receive the rear end'olethe bolt 20 and its nut 21.

Arranged at the outer side of the headstock are two india-rubber buiiing springs 24 located one at each side of thev coupler head shank 1 and compressed upon inward movement of the coupler head 2 by the bearingvof a striking face at the rear of the coupler head on a casting 25 arranged 1n front of the said springs 24. The casting 25 is formed, midway of its length, with a hole through which the shankl 1 of the coupler head-.extends and with rearwardly extending annular flanges 26 that surround the springs 24 and slide between guiding and supporting webs 27 that project forwardiy from a casting 28 yfixed to the vehicle headstock. Each external buiiing spring is an india-rubber spring of the type before mentioned, namely comprising concentric india-rubber rings moulded on to a metal plate, and the said springis mounted on a'- bolt passed through the front casting, axially through the spring and through a hole Y formed therefor in the casting fixed to the vehicle headstock. l

The coupler head 2 and shank 1 are sup ported on a/centralizcr platform or bar A30 having hook-like ends 31 supported on pins '32 carried by the lower en'ds of swmging nnks 33 the upper ends of which are mcuntedito rock '.1 pins ,34 mounted in the front casting 25. As will be seen the swing ing centralizing links3'3 are located between the front buffer springs 24 and the coupler head shank 1.

To enable the parts to be assembled, the .front casting-25 is formedwith a lateral Leiasaa allow of the said shank being passed therethrough and after this has been done the said enlargement is filled in by a block. 36 which is fixed in place as by screws 37. As usual the centralizing platform or bar 30 is formed with upwardly extending lugs 38 between which the coupler head shank 1 is seated. The face 39 of the front casting 25 upon which bears the striking face 40 at lthe rear of the coupler head 2 is suitably curved as shown.

It will be appreciated. that the buing and draw spring arrangement according to the invention is highly eiiicient, compact, and of sturdy construction.

The various parts are so designated as to be readily assembled and the provision of the external buing springs in combination with the butiin `and draw springs within the yoke provi es a buliing spring arrangement well adapted to absorb and cushion severe blows and bung shocks.

Outside buiiing springs and a centralizing device as hereinbefore described may be used with spring arrangements within the yoke other than those shown, or with a friction draft gear within the yoke, without de' springs may be employed.

Finally the invention is not restricted to any details of construction described with reference to the example illustrated as variations may be made as may be found necessary or desirable'in practice.

What we claim is:-

1. ln central buliing and draw gear, a

coupler head having a shank, india-rubber buing springs located in front of the vehicle headstock, a movable member for compressing said front buffer springs upon inward movement of said coupler head, and means, carried by said movable member, for centralizing said buffer head.

2. In central buing and draw gear, a

coupler head having a shank, two india-rubber buing springs vlocated in front of the vehicle headstock one at each side of the shank of said coupler head, an endways movable member located in front of said springs and against which said c oupler head bears when moved inwardly, 'a cross bar which supports said. coupler head and its shank, links that carry the said cross bar, and pins from which said links are suspended mounted in the said movable mem-4 3. In central buiing and draw gear, a coupler head having a'shank, two india-rubber buling'springs located in front of the 'Vehicle headstock one at each side of the shank of said coupler head, an endways movable member located in front of said springs and against which said coupler head bears when moved inwardly, asupporting guide for said movable member fixed to the u' vehicle headstock, a cross bar which su ports said coupler head and its shank, li s located ,Lone at each side of the shank of said coupler head that carry the said crossl bar, and pins from which said links are suspended mounted in the said movable mem- 4.'In central bufing and draw gear, a. coupler head having a shank, two india-rubber buing springs located in front of the vehicle headstock one at each side of the shank ofsaid coupler head, an endways movable member located in front of said springs and against which said coupler head bears when moved inwardy, a supporting 3u guide for said movable member fixed to the l vehicle headstock, bolts carried by said movable member and said supporting guide -on which said front springs are mounted, links that carry the said cross bar, and pins from which said links are suspended mounted in the said movable member.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

ALEXANDER SPENCER. 4u RICHARD THOMSON GLASCODINE. 

